Saving an equation-based replacement set of message recipients for future use

ABSTRACT

A set of recipients of an electronic message are identified. The recipients may be part of a first list. Each recipient of the first list may have had their name or other identifier (e.g., email address) entered by a user into one of various designation sections of a messaging interface. A second list is also entered into one of the various designation sections of the messaging interface. The first and second lists may be mathematically evaluated using a set operator to generate a third list. The third list may be referred to as a replacement set of recipients. Saving this third set as a new list may occur by saving an expression of a name/identifier of the first list, name/identifier of the second list, and the set operator. The saved third set may be selected for future message conveyances.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of U.S. patent application Ser. No.11/380,984, filed 1 May 2006 now U.S. Pat. No. 7,886,011 and U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 12/983,022, filed 31 Dec. 2010 soon issued as U.S.Pat. No. 8,606,864.

The entire contents of U.S. application Ser. No. 11/380,984 and U.S.application Ser. No. 12/983,022 are incorporated by reference herein.

BACKGROUND

The disclosure relates to the field of messaging and, more particularly,to the saving an equation-based replacement set of message recipientsfor future use.

Email plays a large part in personal and business communications. Whensending an email to a large number of recipients, users must enter anidentifier for each addressee and/or specify a distribution listcontaining a static group of previously defined addressees. Large groupsof addressees and/or distribution lists can be difficult to manage. Manyemail applications have the ability to categorize addressees anddistribution lists. This ability allows users to organize addressees anddistribution lists into user defined recipient groups, such as “Family”or “Coworkers”. When graphically selecting recipient groups, users canchoose to view only those recipients and distribution lists associatedwith a defined group.

Despite conventional organizational aids, email applications thatsupport conventional distribution lists lock users into anall-or-nothing arrangement. The applications do not allow a user to sendan email to a subset of addressees in a distribution list, such asexcluding a specific email address from the list. Instead, users mustresort to manually editing the distribution list members or manuallyselecting individual email addresses. This limitation can be tedious andfrustrating to users who desire to send email to a large set ofrecipients that is similar but not identical to a set of addresseesspecified within an existing distribution list.

Another problem with many existing implementations of distribution listsis that users cannot combine multiple distribution lists to create asingle list that includes all members without a duplication of emailaddresses. Users can select multiple distribution lists as recipients.However, if an email address appears in multiple lists, this recipientcan be sent the email message multiple times. This amount of extraneousemail can be taxing on the receiver's email system by consuming morespace than necessary. In turn, these extraneous emails can cause thereceiver's email inbox to reach capacity faster and, therefore, rejectother pertinent messages.

To cope with these shortcomings, many users create a multiplicity ofdistribution lists with minor differences in an attempt to overcome theinherent static nature of conventional distribution lists. The quantityof modified distribution lists necessary to account for even the mostprobable permutations is astronomical and increases exponentially as thesize and quantity of lists increase. These lists can consume additionalstorage space, which can degrade the overall performance of the emailsystem. Additionally, the user is challenged with having to constantlydecipher somewhat cryptic names often assigned to a plethora of similardistribution lists.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

There are shown in the drawings, embodiments which are presentlypreferred, it being understood, however, that the disclosure is notlimited to the precise arrangements and instrumentalities shown.

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a system for sending electronic mail inaccordance with an embodiment of the inventive arrangements disclosedherein.

FIG. 2 illustrates a collection of sample user distribution lists andsample operations on the sample user distribution lists.

FIG. 3 illustrates a collection of graphical user interfaces (GUIs) fora system that supports dynamic set operations when specifying emailrecipients in accordance with an embodiment of the inventivearrangements disclosed herein.

FIG. 4 is a flow chart of a method for the use of dynamic set operationswhen specifying email recipients in accordance with an embodiment of theinventive arrangements disclosed herein.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

One embodiment of the disclosure identifies a set of recipients of anelectronic message. The recipients may be part of a first list. Eachrecipient of the first list may have had their name or other identifier(e.g., email address) entered by a user into one of various designationsections of a messaging interface. A second list is also entered intoone of the various designation sections of the messaging interface. Thefirst and second lists may be mathematically evaluated using a setoperator to generate a third list. The third list may be referred to asa replacement set of recipients. Set operator may, for example, excluderecipients of the second list that are in the first list, so that theresulting third list (replacement set) includes those recipients in thefirst lists and not in the second. The third list is saved for futureuse. Saving this third set as a new list may occur by saving anexpression of a name/identifier of the first list, name/identifier ofthe second list, and the set operator. The new list (the resulting setor the third list) is thereafter able to be utilized to define thereplacement set. Whenever the first list or the second list is changed(since the new list is saved by expression), the third list (new list)is dynamically or automatically updated in a corresponding fashion. Thismay minimize maintenance of complex distribution lists with significantinterdependencies. The disclosure may also prevent erroneous sets ofrecipients from receiving messages which commonly occurs when oneenumerated list is updated for a change of people but anassociated/corresponding list of many of the same people is not updatedin a consistent fashion.

Embodiments of the disclosure permits users of email applications tomodify existing email distribution lists through the use of setoperations. More specifically, this disclosure permits a user to specifya first set of email recipients, a second set of email recipients, and aset operation. A third set of email recipients can be automaticallygenerated by performing the set operation upon the first set and thesecond set. An email message can then be sent to each recipient in thethird set. It should be understood that the present invention cancombine any number of sets to generate a resultant set and is not to beconstrued as limited to embodiments where two sets are combined togenerate a third set.

Embodiments of the disclosure can be implemented in accordance withnumerous aspects consistent with the material presented herein. Forexample, one aspect of the disclosure can include a software method forspecifying email recipients that includes a graphical user interfacethat is associated with an email application. Within the graphical userinterface, a user specified distribution list, a user specified setoperation, and one or more user specified email recipients can beidentified. Software algorithms can automatically generate a set ofintended email recipients by performing the set operation upon thedistribution list and the at least one email recipient.

Another aspect of the disclosure can include a graphical user interface(GUI) for sending email. The GUI can include a recipient designationsection and a set operation designation section. A set of intended emailrecipients can be automatically generated by a software program thatperforms a set operation specified in the set operation designationsection against at least two sets of recipients specified in therecipient designation section.

It should be noted that various aspects of the disclosure can beimplemented as a program for controlling computing equipment toimplement the functions described herein, or a program for enablingcomputing equipment to perform processes corresponding to the stepsdisclosed herein. This program may be provided by storing the program ina magnetic disk, an optical disk, a semiconductor memory, or any otherrecording medium. The program can also be provided as a digitallyencoded signal conveyed via a carrier wave. The described program can bea single program or can be implemented as multiple subprograms, each ofwhich interact within a single computing device or interact in adistributed fashion across a network space.

It should also be noted that the methods detailed herein can also bemethods performed at least in part by a service agent and/or a machinemanipulated by a service agent in response to a service request.

As will be appreciated by one skilled in the art, aspects of the presentdisclosure may be embodied as a system, method or computer programproduct. Accordingly, aspects of the present invention may take the formof an entirely hardware embodiment, a software embodiment (includingfirmware, resident software, micro-code, etc.) where the softwareembodiment can include a storage medium (which can be a tangible,physical, non-transitory storage medium) within which the softwareresides, or an embodiment combining software and hardware aspects thatmay all generally be referred to herein as a “circuit,” “module” or“system.” Furthermore, aspects of the present invention may take theform of a computer program product embodied in one or more computerreadable medium(s) having computer readable program code embodiedthereon.

Any combination of one or more computer readable medium(s) may beutilized. The computer readable medium may be a computer readable signalmedium or a computer readable storage medium. A computer program storedon a computer readable storage medium may be propagated over a distancevia a computer readable signal medium.

The computer readable storage medium can be a tangible, non-transitorymedium. The computer readable storage medium can be a physical device orpart of a physical device in which information is digitally encoded. Acomputer readable storage medium may be, for example, but not limitedto, an electronic, magnetic, optical, electromagnetic, infrared, orsemiconductor system, apparatus, or device, or any suitable combinationof the foregoing. More specific examples (a non-exhaustive list) of thecomputer readable storage medium would include the following: anelectrical connection having one or more wires, a portable computerdiskette, a hard disk, a random access memory (RAM), a read-only memory(ROM), an erasable programmable read-only memory (EPROM or Flashmemory), an optical fiber, a portable compact disc read-only memory(CD-ROM), an optical storage device, a magnetic storage device, or anysuitable combination of the foregoing. In the context of this document,a computer readable storage medium may be any tangible medium that cancontain, or store a program for use by or in connection with aninstruction execution system, apparatus, or device.

A computer readable signal medium may include a propagated data signalwith computer readable program code embodied therein, for example, inbaseband or as part of a carrier wave. Such a propagated signal may takeany of a variety of forms, including, but not limited to,electro-magnetic, optical, or any suitable combination thereof. Acomputer readable signal medium may be any computer readable medium thatis not a computer readable storage medium and that can communicate,propagate, or transport a program for use by or in connection with aninstruction execution system, apparatus, or device.

Program code embodied on a computer readable medium may be transmittedusing any appropriate medium, including but not limited to wireless,wireline, optical fiber cable, RF, etc., or any suitable combination ofthe foregoing. Computer program code for carrying out operations foraspects of the present invention may be written in any combination ofone or more programming languages, including an object orientedprogramming language such as Java, Smalltalk, C++ or the like andconventional procedural programming languages, such as the “C”programming language or similar programming languages. The program codemay execute entirely on the user's computer, partly on the user'scomputer, as a stand-alone software package, partly on the user'scomputer and partly on a remote computer or entirely on the remotecomputer or server. In the latter scenario, the remote computer may beconnected to the user's computer through any type of network, includinga local area network (LAN) or a wide area network (WAN), or theconnection may be made to an external computer (for example, through theInternet using an Internet Service Provider).

Aspects of the present invention are described below with reference toflowchart illustrations and/or block diagrams of methods, apparatus(systems) and computer program products according to embodiments of theinvention. It will be understood that each block of the flowchartillustrations and/or block diagrams, and combinations of blocks in theflowchart illustrations and/or block diagrams, can be implemented bycomputer program instructions. These computer program instructions maybe provided to a processor of a general purpose computer, specialpurpose computer, or other programmable data processing apparatus toproduce a machine, such that the instructions, which execute via theprocessor of the computer or other programmable data processingapparatus, create means for implementing the functions/acts specified inthe flowchart and/or block diagram block or blocks.

These computer program instructions may also be stored in a computerreadable medium that can direct a computer, other programmable dataprocessing apparatus, or other devices to function in a particularmanner, such that the instructions stored in the computer readablemedium produce an article of manufacture including instructions whichimplement the function/act specified in the flowchart and/or blockdiagram block or blocks.

The computer program instructions may also be loaded onto a computer,other programmable data processing apparatus, or other devices to causea series of operational steps to be performed on the computer, otherprogrammable apparatus or other devices to produce a computerimplemented process such that the instructions which execute on thecomputer or other programmable apparatus provide processes forimplementing the functions/acts specified in the flowchart and/or blockdiagram block or blocks.

Turning to the figures, FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a system 100for sending electronic mail in accordance with an embodiment of theinventive arrangements disclosed herein. In system 100, user 105 cansend an email via email application 130 running on client 110. Emailapplication 130 can be any of a variety of email system interfacesincluding, but not limited to, a software client, a Web page, a thinclient, an applet, and the like. Client 110 can be any of a variety ofcomputing devices including, but not limited to, a personal computer, akiosk, a personal data assistant (PDA), a mobile phone, and the like.

Client 110 can operate in a stand-alone fashion. Alternatively, client110 can be a device that cooperatively participates in a network ofdistributed computing devices. Network 115 can facilitate data exchangesover wireless as well as line-based communication pathways andprotocols.

Email application 130 communicates with email server 120 via client 110and network 115. Email server 120 includes data store 121, whichcontains user distribution lists 122, and dynamic set engine 123. Userdistribution lists 122 can include one or more previously definedaddressees. User 105 can access user distribution lists 122 for use inemail application 130.

Dynamic set engine 123 can include a set of machine-readableinstructions for performing dynamic set operations upon user selectedrecipients and/or previously established distribution lists. Dynamic setengine 123 can be implemented in a variety of manners including, but notlimited to, a web service, a server application, a client application,an email server application plug-in component, and the like. Dynamic setengine 123 can receive data from email application 130 and/or data store121 via network 115. Results from the processing of data can bedisplayed in email application 130 and stored in data store 121,expanding the contents of user distribution lists 122. In anotherembodiment, dynamic set engine 123 can reside on client 110.

User 125 can access an email via email application 131 running on client111. Email application 131 can be any of a variety of email systeminterfaces including, but not limited to, a software client, a Web page,a thin client, an applet, and the like. Client 111 can be any of avariety of computing devices including, but not limited to, a personalcomputer, a kiosk, a personal data assistant (PDA), a mobile phone, andthe like. Client 111 can operate in a stand-alone fashion.Alternatively, client 110 can be a device that cooperativelyparticipates in a network of distributed computing devices.

FIG. 2 illustrates a collection 200 of sample user distribution listsand sample operations on the sample user distribution lists. Forillustrative purposes, four distribution lists, Family 201, Friends 202,Company 203, and Management 204, are defined with fictitious emailaddresses. Family 201 can include email addresses such as mom@home.com,sis@email.net, and cousinjoe@home.com. Friends 202 can include emailaddresses such as lily@company.com, amy@company.com, cousinjoe@home.com,sis@email.net, moose@ squirrel.org, and jason@halloween.com. Company 203can include email addresses such as john@company.com,barabara@company.com, amy@company.com, steve@company.com,lily@company.com, and dilbert@company.com. Management 204 can includeemail addresses such as amy@company.com, catbert@hr.net, andsteve@company.com.

Sample 210 includes recipient definition 212 and recipient set 213.Recipient set 213 is generated by performing the set operation inrecipient definition 212. In this example, recipient set 213 containsthose email addresses that exist in both Family 201 and Friends 202.

Sample 220 includes recipient definition 222 and recipient set 223.Recipient set 223 is generated by performing the set operation inrecipient definition 222. In this example, recipient set 223 containsthose email addresses that exist in Company 203 that are not a member ofManagement 204.

Sample 230 includes recipient definition 232 and recipient set 233.Recipient set 233 is generated by performing the set operations inrecipient definition 232. Order of operation preference is designated bythe use of parentheses in recipient definition 232. In this example,recipient set 233 contains those email addresses that exist in eitherFamily 201 or Friends 202, but not in Company 203.

Sample 240 includes recipient definition 242 and recipient set 243.Recipient set 243 is generated by performing the set operations inrecipient definition 242. Order of operation preference is designated bythe use of parentheses in recipient definition 242. In this example,recipient set 243 contains those email addresses that exist in Friends202 but not Family 201, or Company 203 but not Management 204.

FIG. 3 illustrates a collection 300 of graphical user interfaces (GUIs)for a system that supports dynamic set operations when specifying emailrecipients in accordance with an embodiment of the inventivearrangements disclosed herein. Recipient list generator GUI 310 can bean external interface to email application 130 of system 100 and canreside on either client 110 or email server 120. Additionally, recipientlist generator GUI 310 can utilize the sample user distribution lists ofcollection 200.

Recipient list generator GUI 310 can include recipient designationsection 315, set operation designation section 320, resultant recipientsection 330, apply button 335, and save button 340. Recipientdesignation section 315 can include first set designator 317 and secondset designator 318. A user of recipient list generator GUI 310 canspecify an email address or a previously established email distributionlist in first set designator 317 and second set designator 318.Designation of an email address or previously established emaildistribution list in first set designator 317 or second set designator318 can be performed in any of a variety of mechanisms including, butnot limited to, input by a user via a keyboard, selection by an userfrom a drop-down list, a copy-and-paste function performed by a user,selection by an user from a pop-up menu, and the like.

Set operation designation section 320 can contain a graphical display ofuser selectable set operations. Set operation designation section 320can be any of a variety of selection mechanisms including, but notlimited to, radio buttons, a drop-down list, a pop-up menu, a combo box,and the like.

Resultant recipient section 330 can include resultant recipient set 331.Resultant recipient set 331 displays the results of the operationselected in set operation designation section 320 upon the first setdesignator 317 and second set designator 318 of the recipientdesignation section 315. Resultant recipient section 330 can be any of avariety of display methods including, but not limited to, a pop-upwindow, a fly-over window, a GUI display window, an applet, and thelike. Modifications to the contents of resultant recipient set 331 canbe made by a user via a mechanism such as a right-click pop-up menu ortyping.

Selection of apply button 335 by a user transmits the contents ofresultant recipient set 331 to email application 130 of system 100.Selection of save button 340 by a user stores the contents of resultantrecipient set 331 in data store 121 of email server 120 of system 100.

Email application GUI 350 can be an interface of email application 130of system 100 and can reside on either client 110 or email server 120.Additionally, email application GUI 350 can utilize the sample userdistribution lists of collection 200.

Email application GUI 350 can include primary recipient designation 355,copy recipient designation 360, a blind copy recipient designation (notshown), and the like. Primary recipient definition 355 and copyrecipient definition 360 can accept user input of email addresses,previously established distribution lists, and set operations. Primaryrecipient definition 355 and copy recipient definition 360 can acceptany of a variety of input methods including, but not limited to, acut-and-paste function, a keyboard, a point-and-click function, adrop-down list, and the like.

Cursor 370 can represent a graphical pointer associated with a computingdevice. The placement of cursor 370 over primary recipient definition355 by a user results in the appearance of recipient set window 375.Recipient set window 375 can be a display for the results of the setoperation defined in primary recipient definition 355. Recipient setwindow 375 can be any of a variety of display methods including, but notlimited to, a pop-up window, a flyover pop-up window, an applicationwindow, and the like.

The selection of send button 365 by a user results in the dispatching ofthe email to the email addresses designated by primary recipientdefinition 355 and copy recipient definition 360. The selection of thesave list button 366 by a user stores the contents of recipient set 375which contains the list as defined by primary recipient definition 355,copy recipient definition 360, or both in data store 121 of email server120 of system 100. The selection of save expression button 367 storesthe contents of either primary recipient definition 355 or copyrecipient definition 360 or both for future reuse.

It should be appreciated that interfaces 310 and 350 are provided todemonstrate concepts described for an embodiment of the inventivearrangements disclosed herein. Interfaces 310 and 350 are not intendedto constrain the scope of the invention to a particular contemplatedexpression. Derivatives of interfaces 310 and 350 including differentinterface elements, arrangements, layouts, and the like are contemplatedherein. Further, although examples shown in interfaces 310 and 350illustrate two sets being combined to generate a third recipient set,the invention is not to be limited in this regard. That is, any numberof recipient sets or distribution lists can be combined to generate aresultant recipient set or dynamic distribution list.

FIG. 4 is a flow chart of a method 400 for the use of set operationswhen specifying email recipients in accordance with an embodiment of theinventive arrangements disclosed herein. Method 400 can be performed inthe context of system 100 or in the context of any other system allowingthe composition and sending of email. Additionally, method 400 can beperformed in the context of recipient list generator GUI 310 or emailapplication GUI 350 or in the context of any other GUI that supports theperforming of set operations on recipient lists.

Method 400 can begin in step 405, where a user opens an email instance.In step 410, a user selects their first set of recipients. The first setof recipients can be any of a variety of email addressee representationsincluding, but not limited to, a single email address, a name of apreviously established distribution list of email addresses, anidentifier that is associated with an email address, and the like. Asecond distribution list is selected in step 415. The second set ofrecipients can be any of a variety of email addressee representationsincluding, but not limited to, a single email address, a name of apreviously established distribution list of email addresses, anidentifier that is associated with an email address, and the like.

In step 420, a set operation is selected by a user that is to beperformed upon the sets of recipients selected in steps 410 and 415.Step 425 is the performance of the set operation designated in step 420upon the sets of recipients identified in steps 410 and 415, resultingin a dynamically generated third recipient set. A user can choose todisplay the contents of the third recipient set graphically in step 430.The contents of the third recipient set can be displayed in any of avariety of methods including, but not limited to, a pop-up window, aflyover pop-up window, an application window, a text box, and the like.In step 435, a user can choose to save the contents of the thirdrecipient set for future reuse as an established distribution list indata store 121 of email server 120 of system 100. The expression used togenerate the third recipient set can be saved by a user for future reusein step 440. In step 445, a user selects the option to send the email.Step 450 sends the email to each member of the third recipient set.

The present invention may be realized in hardware, software, or acombination of hardware and software. The present invention may berealized in a centralized fashion in one computer system or in adistributed fashion where different elements are spread across severalinterconnected computer systems. Any kind of computer system or otherapparatus adapted for carrying out the methods described herein issuited. A typical combination of hardware and software may be a generalpurpose computer system with a computer program that, when being loadedand executed, controls the computer system such that it carries out themethods described herein.

The present invention also may be embedded in a computer programproduct, which comprises all the features enabling the implementation ofthe methods described herein, and which when loaded in a computer systemis able to carry out these methods. Computer program in the presentcontext means any expression, in any language, code or notation, of aset of instructions intended to cause a system having an informationprocessing capability to perform a particular function either directlyor after either or both of the following: a) conversion to anotherlanguage, code or notation; b) reproduction in a different materialform.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method comprising: at least one of one or morecomputing devices identifying a first distribution list and a seconddistribution list of email message recipients, wherein the firstdistribution list comprises two or more of the email message recipients,wherein the second distribution list comprises one or more of the emailmessage recipients, wherein the first distribution list and the seconddistribution list are entered by a user into one of various designationsections of an email messaging interface of an email messagingapplication; at least one of the one or more computing devicesmathematically evaluating the first distribution list and the seconddistribution list with a set operator resulting in a third list, whereinthe third list is a replacement list of the email message recipients; atleast one of the one or more computing devices saving an expression thatcomprises a replacement list name for the replacement list, a name orother representation for the first distribution list, a name or otherrepresentation for the second distribution list, and the set operator,wherein the saving is for future use of the replacement list referencedby replacement list name as a new distribution list for sending emailmessages, wherein each of the one or more computing devices comprisesone or more processors, one or more non-transitory storage mediums, andprogram instructions stored on the one or more non-transitory storagemediums, wherein the one or more processors execute the programinstructions; and after saving the replacement list name, at least oneof the one or more computing devices receiving and saving a change tothe two or more email recipients in the first distribution list or atleast one of the computing devices receiving and saving a change to theone or more recipients in the second distribution list; if the change tothe first distribution list is made and after the change to the firstdistribution list is made, at least one of the one or more computingdevices receiving an entry of the replacement list name within one ofthe various designation sections of the email messaging interface,wherein the replacement list name is evaluated using the expression bymathematically evaluating the first list as changed and the second listwith the set operator; and if the change to the second distribution listis made and after the change to the second distribution list is made, atleast one of the one or more computing devices receiving an entry of thereplacement list name within one of the various designation sections ofthe email messaging interface, wherein the replacement list name isevaluated using the expression by mathematically evaluating the firstdistribution list and the second distribution list as changed with theset operator.
 2. The method of claim 1, further comprising: after thereplacement list name is saved, at least one of the one or morecomputing devices receiving an entry of the replacement list name withinone of the various designation sections of the email messaginginterface, wherein the replacement list name is evaluated by at leastone of the one or more computing devices using the expression bymathematically evaluating the first distribution list and the seconddistribution list with the set operator.
 3. The method of claim 1,wherein evaluation of the set operator results in the third listconsisting of the two or more email recipients of the first distributionlist excluding the one or more email recipients of the seconddistribution list.
 4. The method of claim 1, wherein evaluation of theset operator results in the third list consisting of a subset of the twoor more email recipients of the first distribution list that are alsoincluded in the one or more email recipients of the second distributionlist.
 5. The method of claim 1, wherein the various designation sectionscomprise a TO section, a CC section, and BCC section.
 6. The method ofclaim 1, wherein the email messaging interface of the email messagingapplication supports set operators of AND, OR, and NOT.
 7. A computerprogram product comprising: one or more non-transitory storage mediumsstoring program instructions; the program instructions executable by oneor more processors to: identify a first distribution list and a seconddistribution list of email message recipients, wherein the firstdistribution list comprises two or more of the email message recipients,wherein the second distribution list comprises one or more of the emailmessage recipients, wherein the first distribution list and seconddistribution list are entered by a user into one of various designationsections of an email messaging interface of an email messagingapplication; mathematically evaluate the first distribution list and thesecond distribution list with a set operator resulting in a third list,wherein the third list is a replacement list of the email messagerecipients; save an expression that comprises a replacement list namefor the replacement list, a name or other representation for the firstdistribution list, a name or other representation for the seconddistribution list, and the set operator, wherein the saving is forfuture use of the replacement list referenced by replacement list name;after saving the replacement list name, receive and save a change to thetwo or more email recipients in the first distribution list or receiveand save a change to the one or more recipients in the seconddistribution list; if the change to the first distribution list is madeand after the change to the first distribution list is made, receive anentry of the replacement list name within one of the various designationsections of the email messaging interface, wherein the replacement listname is evaluated using the expression by mathematically evaluating thefirst list as changed and the second list with the set operator; and ifthe change to the second distribution list is made and after the changeto the second distribution list is made, receive an entry of thereplacement list name within one of the various designation sections ofthe email messaging interface, wherein the replacement list name isevaluated using the expression by mathematically evaluating the firstdistribution list and the second distribution list as changed with theset operator.
 8. The computer program product of claim 7, whereinevaluation of the set operator by the program instructions results inthe third list consisting of the two or more email recipients of thefirst distribution list excluding the one or more email recipients ofthe second distribution list.
 9. The computer program product of claim7, wherein evaluation of the set operator by the program instructionsresults in the third list consisting of a subset of the two or moreemail recipients of the first distribution list that are also includedin the one or more email recipients of the second distribution list. 10.The computer program product of claim 7, wherein the various designationsections comprise a TO section, a CC section, and BCC section.
 11. Thecomputer program product of claim 7, wherein the email messaginginterface of the email messaging application supports set operators ofAND, OR, and NOT.
 12. A computing device comprising: one or moreprocessors; one or more non-transitory storage mediums; programinstructions stored on the one or more non-transitory storage mediums,wherein the one or more processors execute the program instructions to:identify a first distribution list and a second distribution list ofemail message recipients, wherein the first distribution list comprisestwo or more of the email message recipients, wherein the seconddistribution list comprises one or more of the email message recipients,wherein the first distribution list and second distribution list areentered by a user into one of various designation sections of an emailmessaging interface of an email messaging application; mathematicallyevaluate the first distribution list and the second distribution listwith a set operator resulting in a third list, wherein the third list isa replacement list of the email message recipients; and save anexpression that comprises a replacement list name for the replacementlist, a name or other representation for the first distribution list, aname or other representation for the second distribution list, and theset operator, wherein the saving is for future use of the replacementlist referenced by replacement list name; after saving the replacementlist name, receive and save a change to the two or more email recipientsin the first distribution list or receive and save a change to the oneor more recipients in the second distribution list; if the change to thefirst distribution list is made and after the change to the firstdistribution list is made, receive an entry of the replacement list namewithin one of the various designation sections of the email messaginginterface, wherein the replacement list name is evaluated using theexpression by mathematically evaluating the first list as changed andthe second list with the set operator; and if the change to the seconddistribution list is made and after the change to the seconddistribution list is made, receive an entry of the replacement list namewithin one of the various designation sections of the email messaginginterface, wherein the replacement list name is evaluated using theexpression by mathematically evaluating the first distribution list andthe second distribution list as changed with the set operator.
 13. Thecomputing device of claim 12, wherein evaluation of the set operator bythe computing device results in: the third list consisting of the two ormore recipients of the first list excluding the one or more recipientsof the second list, or the third list consisting of a subset of the twoor more recipients of the first list that are also included in the oneor more recipients of the second list.
 14. The computing device of claim12, wherein the various designation sections comprise a TO section, a CCsection, and BCC section.
 15. The computing device of claim 12, whereinthe email messaging interface of the email messaging applicationsupports set operators of AND, OR, and NOT.